Stop motion for knitting machines



'J. SCHUTZ;

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED IULY8, I920- 3 SHLET S-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 25

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STOP MOT| 0N FOR KNITTING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1920.

J. SCHUTZ.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, I920.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3'.

IZZTNESSES A TTORlI/EIS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

7 JOHN SGHUTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed July 8,

' by me July 5, 1919, Serial No. 308,877.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stopmotionfor knitting machines of the reciprocating carriage type andarranged to automatically stop the machine on the yarn running out or incase the yarn breaks or a knot is in the yarn.

Another object is to render the stop motion exceedingly sensitive and toallow adjustment thereof according to the strength of the yarn used atthe time.

Another object is to maintain a uniform tension on the yarn throughoutthe stroke of the carriage especially when knitting tapering goods-such,for instance,as sleeves which gradually narrow down beginning at theupper end.

Another object is to provide a long length of the yarn to render thestop motion exceedingly useful on a Lamb machine having a long sweep.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented intheaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in

which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved stop motion;

' Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section of the same on the line 3.-3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of part of the same on the line44 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation partly in sectionof the improved stop motion and with the parts in normal workingposition and showing in dotted lines the position of the parts onbreaking the yarn; Figure 6 is a side elevation of a portionSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922. 1920. Serial No. 394,723.

of the stop motion with the parts in position when a knot in the yarnactuates the stop motion;

Figure 7 is a side elevation-of the stop motlon with the parts inreleased position caused by the yarn being wound too tightly on thebobbin;

Figure 8 is a similar view of the stop motion with the parts in runsout,

gigure 9 is an end elevation of the same; an

Figure 10 is a rear view ofthe same.

The improved stop motion presently-described in detail is moreespecially designed position when the yarn for use on'a straightknitting machine provided with suitable stopping means (not shown) forstopping the machine. The stopping means. for an actuating member suchas a shipper lever or the like is connected by a chain, cable or otherflexible connection 20 with a ring 21 held on the lower end of a slide22 mounted to slide up and down in a casing 23 attached to a stand 24mounted on top of the knitting machine adjacent one end thereof. Theslide 22 is pulled upward by a pull spring 25 secured at its lower endon a pin 26 attached to the slide 22 and fastened at its upper end by ascrew 27 to the casing 23 at the top thereof. The pin 26 engages thenotched locking heel 30 of a lever 31 fulcrumed at its lower end at 32within the casing 23. The upper end of the lever 31 is adapted to beengaged by the end 33 of a releasing lever 34 fulcrumed at 35 within thecasing 23 and extending through a slot 35 formed in the top of the saidcasing 23. -It will be noticed that when the slide 22 is in set orlowermost position, as shown in Figures 1 and-5, then the spring 25 isheld under tension with the pin 26 engaging the notched locking heel 30to hold the lever 31 in engagement with the tripping end 33 of thereleasing lever 34. It will be noticed that when the releasing lever 34is given a swinging motion from the right to 'the left (see dotted linesin Figure 5) then the tripping end 33 moves out of engagement with theupper free end of the lever 31 and disengages the pin 26 to allow thespring 25 to quickly pull the slide 22 upward thus actuating thestopping means of the knitting machine to stop the latter. It will be noticed that the locking and releasing devices for the slide 22 are verysensitive and a slight movement glven to the releasing lever 34 from theright to the left releases the lever 31 whereby spring 25 is releasedand the slide 22 moves quickly into uppermost stopping position.

The releasing lever 34 is adapted to be engaged by an arm 40 adjustablysecured by a set screw 41 to a rock shaft 42 journaled 1n suitablebearings 43 and 44 arranged on the stand 24. On the rock shaft 42 isadjustably secured an arm 45 by the use of a set screw 46 and this arm45 is connected by a cord or other flexible connection 47 with the lowerend of an arm 48 adjustably secured at its upper end by a set screw 49to a transverse shaft 50 which is journaled in a bushing 51 attached bya set screw 52 to a bearing 53 arranged on a horizontal arm 54 of thestand 24. On the rear end of the shaft 50 is secured or formed anupwardly extending arm 55 terminating in anangular lug.56 extending intothe path of a sweep rod 60, preferably of spring wire, and formed intoan eye 61 engaging a screw 62 screwing in a flange 63 formed on a hub 64mounted to turn loosely on the bushing 51 (see Figure 3). The sweep rodterminates inan arm 65 (see Figure 4) engaged by one end of a spring 66extending around the hub 64 and connected at its other end to a setscrew 67 screwing in a collar 68 adjustably mounted on a rod 69 attachedto the rear end of the arm 54. The set screw 67 serves to fasten thecollar 68 in position on the rod 69, after the collar. 68 is adjusted,to give the desired tension to the spring 66. I

The oute'ror free end of the sweep rod 60 supports a yarn guide 70 ofporcelain or other suitable material, and through which the yarn 71passes, also passing through an eye 72 formed in the outer end of thearm 54. The yarn after leaving the eye 72 passes tlhrough theusual yarnguide (not shown) on the carriage of the knitting machine. The yarnprior to reaching the yarn guide 70 passes through aneye' 73 ar-' rangedon the arm 54 in the rear of the eye 72. It will be noticed that by thearrangement described the sweep rod 60 is held under tension during thetime the knitting machine is running, and the sweep rod .60 is ofconsiderable length to allow free up I and down swinging of the sweeprod according to the pull exerted by the carriage on the yarn 71. Incase the yarn breaks, the sweep rod 60 is released and swings upward andin doing so strikes the lug 56 thus imparting a rearward swingingmovement to the arm 55 of the shaft 50 whereby the latter is turned.This turning movement of the shaft 50 causes the arm 48 to swingforwardly and upwardly as indicated in dotted. lines in Figure 5,whereby the flexible connection 47 is drawn taut and finally exerts apullon the arm 45 and swings the same (see dotted lines in Figure 5)whereby the shaft 42 is correspondingly turned and its arm. 40 actuatesthe releasing lever 34 to swing the latter in released position relativeto the lever 31. When this takes place the slide 22 and the stopmechanism of the machine are actuated to stop the machine.

In order to actuate the lever 34 for releasing the slide 22 in casetheyarn 71. is provided with a knot 75 (see Figure 6), the followingarrangement is made: On the arm 48 previously mentioned is secured a pinadapted to be engaged by an arm 81' mounted to swing on a pivot 82 heldon a bracket 83 forming part of the arm 54 and the stand 24. On the arm.81 is secured a jaw 84 by the use of a screw 85 and this jaw 84overlles the arm 81 and forms with the same a passage for the yarn 71(see Figure 3). The passage can be increased or diminishedin width by aset screw 86 screwing in the arm 81 and having its head engaging the jaw84. The passage is sufficiently narrow to prevent a knot 75 in the yarn71 from passing thro h the passage and hence when the knot rea fzies thepassage it abuts against the right-hand edges of the arm 81 and thejaw84 whereby the pull on the yarn causes the arm 81 to swing from theshaft 42 'is rocked and the lever 34 is actuated by the arm 40 torelease the slide 22 to cause the machine to stop. The arm 81 normallyrests on a stop pin 87 arranged on the bracket 83, as plainly shown inFigure 5, and the yarn passes freely between the arm 81 and its jaw 84until a knot 75 imparts a swinging motion to the arm 81, as aboveexplained. In order to properly guide the yarn 71 through the passageformed by the arm 81 and its jaw 84 use is made of a guide roller 90 andan eye' 91,

of which the guide roller 90 is journaled on the bracket 83 above theshaft 42, and the eye 91 is formed in the arm 54, as plainly indicatedin Figure 5.

In order to stop the machine in case the yarn 71 is wound too tightly onits bobbin 95, the following arrangement is made, special referencebeing. had to Figures 5 and 7 'The yarn prior to reaching the guideroller 90 passes around a guide 100, pref erably made of porcelain, andattached to the. upper end of a lever 101 fulcrumed at 102 on a bracket103 forming part'of the arm 54 of the stand 24. A spring 104 isconnected at one end with a lever 101 and at the other end to thebracket 103 to normally hold he lever 1.01 in an ap roximately verticalposition (see Figures 5, 6, 8 and 10 and against a stop pin 105 held onthe bracket 103. The lower'end of the lever 101 is provided with anangular .arm

101 adapted to engage the arm 45 on the rock shaft 42 to rock the latteron swinging the lever 101 from the left to the right (see Figure 7) incase the tension of the yarn is increased on account of binding on thebobbin 95, through tight winding thereof.

In order to actuate the stopping mechanism in case the yarn runs out thefollowing arrangement is made: The yarn after leaving the bobbin 95passes through an eye 110 (see Figure 5) formed on the bracket 103. Theyarn then passes around a guide 111 and then between two disks 112 and113 forming part of a tension device for the yarn. The disks 112 and 113are mounted on a rod 114 attached to the bracket 103, and the disk 113is pressed towards the disk 112 b a spring 115 coiled on the rod 114 anda utting against a nut 116 screwing on the rod 114 to permit ofadjusting the tension of the spring 115. A jam nut 117 screwing on theouter end of the rod 114' serves to lock the adjusted nut 116 in theadjusted position. The yarn after. passing between the'tensioning disks112 and 113 passes between two guide rods 120 and 121,

of which the guide rod 120 forms part of the rod 121 attached to the rod114 and also carrying the guide rod 111 previously mentioned. The rod121 normally extends above the rod 120 and forms part of an arm 125provided with a weight 126 fulcrumed at 127 on the'bracket 103. Theweight 126' extends into the path of a lug 130 formed on an arm 131secured by a set screw 132 to the rear'end of the shaft 42, as plainlyshown in Figure 10. Normally the weight 126 is in uppermost position, asindicated in Figure 7, that is, a distance away from the angular lug130. By reference to Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7 it will be noticed that thetension of the yarn between the tensioning disks 112 and 113 and theguidelOO holds the rod 121 in uppermost position and likewise the weight126. Now in case the yarn runs out on the bobbin 95 and finally passesout between the tensioning disks 112, 113

then it releases the rod 121, and the weight 126 thereof now swingsdownward and in (1065s) strikes the lug 130 (see Figures 8, 9 and '10)thus imparting a downward swinging movement to the arm 131. When thistakes place a rocking motion is given to the rock shaft 42 whereby thearm 40 imparts a swinging motion to the releasing lever 34' .to releasethe-lever 31 and consequently the slide 22 to stop the machine, aspreviously explained.

When the yarn'breaks at the front the rod 60 acts to stop the machinequickly, but in event of its running-out or breaking at the rear itwould take so long for the yarn to act on the'rod 60 that the machinewould not be stopped quickly,'and it is to enable the machine to bestopped quickly whenever the yarn runs out or breaks at the rear that Ihave devised the stop motion shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the arrangement described theknitting machine is stopped automatically and quickly in case the yarnbreaks at any point between the bobbin and the carriage of the knittingmachine, or in case a knot in the yarn en liable to get easily out oforder. Bythe.

use of the long sweep rod 60 and the devices connected therewith auniform tension is had on the yarn throughout the stroke of the carriagethus facilitating, particularly,knitting of tapering goods, such, forinstance, as sleeves which gradually narrow down beginning at the upperend.

. Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent Y 1. In a stop motionfor knitting machines, an actuating mechanism for the stopping mechanismof the machine provided with a releasing device, a rock'shaft havingarms \of'which one is adapted to engage the'said releasing device, and aspring-pressed upright lever provided at one end with a guide for thepassage of the yarn from the bobbin to the knitting needles,the otherend of the said lever extending downwardly at one side of the rock shaftand adapted to engage another arm of the rock shaft on excessive tensionof the yarn on the bobbin to rock said shaft andcause the first arm tooperate the releasing device.

2. In a stop motion for knitting machines, an actuating mechanism forthe stopping mechanismof the machine providedwith a releasing device, -arock shaft having arms of which one is adapted to engage the saidreleasing device, a tension device for the passage of the yarn, a pairof arms between which passes the yarn adjacent, the said tension device,one of the said arms being fixed and the other being mounted to swing,and a weight on the swlng arm and adapted to engage another of the saidarms on the rock shaft.

3. In a stop motion for knitting machines, a releasing device for thestop mechanism of the machine, a rock shaft having a plurality thereleasing device to release the same, and a ivoted and spring presseduprightlever, said lever being-pivoted intermediate of its ends to formmembers of unequal length, the

.of arms, one of which is adapted to engage longer member having a guidefor the pas sage of the yarn and 1ts shorter member extending downwardlyat one side of the rock shaft and having an angular end adapted toengage another arm of the rock shaft to rock said shaft and therebycause the first arm to operate the releasing device.

4. In a stop motion for knitting machines, a releasing device for thestop mechanism of the machine, a rock shaft having a plurality of arms,one of which is adapted to engage the releasing device to release thesame, a tension device for the passage of the yarn, a pair of armsbetween which passes the yarn adjacent the tension device, one of thearms being fixed and provided with a guide rod and the other plvotallvmounted and provided with a. weight adapted to engage another arm of therock shaft to operate said shaft and cause the first named arm tooperate the releasing device.

5. In a stop motion for knitting machines, areleasing device for thestop mechanism of the machine, a rock shaft having a plurality of arms,one of which is adapted to engage the releasing device to release thesame, a

tension device for the yarn, two guide arms between which the yarnasses, one of which is pivoted and a weig t fulcrumed on a fixed supportand mounted on an arm carried by the pivoted guide arm, said weightbeing adapted to engage an arm of the rock shaft to rock said shaft andcause the first named arm to operate the releasing device.

JOHN: 'SCHUTZ.

